Outside of Hunter Greene’s six-year, $53 million deal, the Cincinnati Reds have been stingy with contract extensions. Greene’s deal represents a bargain for the small-market Reds, and while his recent string of injuries have become a source of frustration among the fans, the fact remains that when he’s healthy, Greene is among the best starting pitchers in the game.
It’s time for the Reds to double-down on the idea of signing one of their young, budding stars to a long-term deal. Thoughts of an affordable Elly De La Cruz contract extension have long since evaporated, but there are still several talented players who could be key to Cincinnati’s long-term success.
Reds should consider long-term deals for Andrew Abbott and Tyler Stephenson
It’s contract extension season throughout Major League Baseball, and Andrew Abbott along with his battery-mate Tyler Stephenson represent the two most likely Reds players to receive a long-term deal. Abbott is coming off an All-Star campaign in 2025 and Stephenson will be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.
Top-of-the-rotation starting pitching is the most sought-after and expensive commodity on the free agent market every winter. The Reds would do themselves a huge favor by locking in Abbott to a long-term deal. The left-hander is looking to build off his best year to date, and one more strong performance this season could push him outside Cincinnati’s price range.
The Reds have Abbott on a league-minimum deal this season, but heading into 2027, that number will go up. Abbott is under team control through 2029, but signing him to something like a five-year deal with a club-option for sixth season should be on the Reds’ radar this spring. Several talented pitchers like Christopher Sanchez, Brandon Pfaadt, and Garrett Crochet recently signed reasonable extensions with their respective teams, and it’s time for Cincinnati to do the same with Abbott.
Stephenson is a different story, but can’t be so easily cast aside. If Cincinnati fails to come to a long-term deal with him before the end of the season, Stephenson will become one of the top free-agent catchers on the open market during the 2026-27 offseason.
There’s a lot of pressure on top catching prospect Alfredo Duno to become a superstar, but he’s years away from making his big league debut and could outgrow the position altogether. The Reds have little depth behind Stephenson in the minor leagues, and while Jose Trevino is signed through 2027, he’s little more than a backup.
Signing Abbott or Stephenson to a contract extension in the coming weeks would be a wise investment on the part of the Reds, but if they’re looking to secure one of their top youngsters, perhaps Sal Stewart would be amenable to a long-term deal. There’s a little more risk with an unproven rookie like Stewart, but such a deal could turn into a bargain if he reaches his ceiling.